Australia's innovation patent system under review-Ten years after its introduction, Australia's unique innovation patent system is under review. On 17 August, the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) published an issues paper, "Review of the Innovation Patent System". The closing date for submissions is 14 October 2011.

Clayton Utz launches iPhone App and YouTube channel-Leading Asia-Pacific law firm Clayton Utz has today launched PocketCU, its first
iPhone App, together with the Clayton Utz YouTube channel - making it even easier for people to access the latest in legal news and developments, as well as news and information about the firm, on-the-go.

Nothing suburban about this fast track to success-Passenger train projects are complex and historically have suffered delays, defects, cost overruns and disputes, but a new quasi-alliance contractual arrangement helped save one from this fate, as Vanessa McBride explains.

Plunger wars: Latest decision bodes well for Bodum-Since the famous decision of the High Court of Australia in Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 in 1982, it has been commonly accepted that a rival trader can copy someone else's product with impunity (unless the product is protected by statutory intellectual property rights, such as a registered design), provided that the look-alike product is marked with the rival trader's brand. The recent decision of the Full Federal Court in Peter Bodum A/S & Ors v DKSH Australia Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 98 casts some doubt on whether that is a correct reading of the High Court's decision.

Voting on the remuneration report: Government changes rules-Recent amendments to the Corporations Act said that chairs both could and couldn't vote undirected proxies on the remuneration report. A new Bill aims to remove the contradiction and make it clear that the chair can vote undirected proxies on the remuneration report if the proxy "expressly authorises the chair to exercise the proxy".

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Clayton Utz communications are intended to provide commentary and general information. They should not be relied upon as legal advice. Formal legal advice should be sought in particular transactions or on matters of interest arising from this communication. Persons listed may not be admitted in all States and Territories.